Hello!

We are pleased to announce that the Solar Dynamics Observatory launched February 11, 2010 without any problems! The official launch time was 10:23am after a 24 hour delay. The weather was beautiful, the sun was high, and there were tears and hugs all around.

I’m including some links if you wish to replay or watch the event for the first time. The Digital Learning Network event link will be available shortly.

NASA: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sdo/main/index.html
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdnxze8f7xU&sns=em
What we saw from the viewing site: http://spaceweather.com/swpod2010/11feb10/anna-herbst1.mov
Some Pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/neurostar/4350258074/in/set-72157623288251657/

In the meantime, if you have any photos from your events you can send them to – We’d love to see what you were up to!

Cheers,
Aleya

Aleya Van Doren
Formal Education Coordinator
Solar Dynamics Observatory

Hello all!

It’s been a week since SDO left the ground. Right now it’s up in orbit, testing instruments and making adjustments for the next two month. We are busy preparing for “First Light” - the event which marks SDO’s first official data transmission to Earth!

I have two videos and a task for you to complete to help us wrap up our launch events:

The link below is for the full pre-launch Distance Learning Network event (in which I appear :-D ) When prompted, the password is “SDO”
http://198.119.162.23/tcs/?id=9EEDE08D-2A55-4314-BE9A-860B118DA342

This video is the (missing from the DLN show) clip showing the scale model of Earth and the Sun. Phil Chamberlin, SDO’s Deputy Project Scientist is in this video as well.
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B8hW5x8S2MWgMjZkOTk2ZDUtYzlmMy00OTNiLWJhNTEtMjY1NjI2MmJiMGQx&hl=en

The final task we have for you is a survey. It’s incredibly important that we collect data to support the success (or failure) of this event. When you complete it you will be entered into a drawing for more SDO goodies and swag. Please fill this out by Thursday, Feb 25th. The drawing will take place on Friday the 26th.

You can find the survey here: https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dEo2MW1KdkdjX0lZWmlmTWwwVnI1eEE6MA

Don’t forget to visit the SDO website often for mission updates: http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/

Thank you for working with us, and we look forward to bringing SDO’s brand new data into your classroom and computers!

All the best,
Aleya

Aleya Van Doren
Formal Education Coordinator
Solar Dynamics Observatory
NASA/GSFC